The following is the first English translation of the entries in a weblog by a Japanese nurse who was dispatched to Rikuzentakata, Iwate, Japan as a member of one of the first disaster medical assistance teams to be sent from Tokyo just several days after the earthquake and tsunami that struck the Tohoku region on March 11, 2011. The original weblog is located here <http://blog.goo.ne.jp/flower-wing>.

DISCLAIMER FROM THE TRANSLATOR

DISCLAIMER FROM THE TRANSLATOR: While I speak both English and Japanese fluently, I know nothing about medicine. These are rough translations made through tears (i.e., sometimes while bawling). Please take all medical details in particular with a grain of salt. These translations have not been proofread and will be revised on a later date.

Please note that I am NOT in contact with the original author, who has given general permission for translation in one of her entries.

I would appreciate it if everyone can refrain from posting these entries elsewhere and to share this address <http://jkts-english.blogspot.com> instead, as I will be making revisions to each entry directly (addresses for individual entries may change if I revise their titles).

Also, a new entry was posted on April 26 on the original weblog. It is however about the author’s personal trip to Matsushima and unrelated to the contents of the previous entries, so I will not be translating it. I will however pass on her observation that Matsushima did not suffer much damage from the earthquake and is still as beautiful as ever.

Edited May 15.

Addendum: The fee received from the Guardian has been transferred to the bank account of Aid TAKATA as of April 18, 2012. I offer my sincerest apologies for the delay.

This story was also picked up by The Age newspaper in Melbourne, Australia. Link is here: http://www.theage.com.au/world/do-not-cry-anonymous-japanese-blog-offers-strength-to-tsunami-survivors-20110510-1eh34.html

pflegepolitik: I personally haven’t heard of any such efforts, but I would like to underscore the importance of translating from the original text (rather than translating from my English, though I suppose it may be used as a point of reference). It’s also important that the translator has a native-level understanding of colloquial Japanese, as the original writing is not without its quirks, and it would be ideal if the translator also has an understanding of medical science (which I do not).

You are absolutely right about the quality of translation. It would be very good if some interpretor would set hands at a Japanese - German transcription.

On the other hand:I do honour your couragous work of 'just doing it now, as good as possible'. And guardian, Kurier, Sydney Morning Herald and tousands of readers seem to be on this side of the argument.

Is there anyone around for a professional translation (which the "flower-wing" material certainly deserve)?

Furthermore: the aftermath of the earthquake was soon overshadowed in the european media by the nuclar catastrophe. To raise support in Germany for the desaster relief efforts that will be neccessary for many month to come, it would be very helpful to have a translation ...

May be other readers here join in this considerations ...I do offer my time and expertise as BA Health and Social care and as reg. nurse in Germany.

pflegepolitik: My personal views are as above and I stand by them, but the writing does not belong to me and I have no authority to forbid or condone further translation, so that’s that. Ich spreche ein bisschen Deutsch, aber gar nicht genug zu übersetzen. Too bad. And please do let me know if any of the medical details sounded incorrect to you. I would hate to make the impression that their team is doing something wrong when it’s just a misunderstanding on my part.

Hi,I read all the material and found that the references to nursing/medicine were well understandable and consistent in my thinking.

Regarding a translation into German: I did ask around a bit in Germany but found no one who was prepared to join the effort. My posting earlier in this thread didn't get a response neither. Therefore: no luck. I'm still prepared to join in others who like to take the initiative. (just contact me via my Blog)

@ anonymous translator:Thanks again for making the words of flowerwing accessable to us non-japanese people.

pflegepolitik: Thank you, I am enormously relieved to hear it. I have a bit of news for you: it looks like a group of volunteers at the University of Vienna are currently working on a German translation. Their translations are being posted in the comments sections of the original Japanese entries, as I initially did myself.

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